A recent report by The Times has revealed some of the top wow-factor breaks specifically with children in mind.

Park Guell in Barcelona provides a rich variety of entertainment for children, with beaches, a giant aquarium and a chocolate museum providing inspiration and stimulation, followed by Gaudi’s breathtaking adventure playground. The Park Guell is an entire hillside of adventure for the children to explore for hours.

The Valley of the Kings in Egypt will amaze children of all ages. The stunning pyramids and exciting history behind the immense structures will fascinate and inspire them long after they return home.

17th Century Swedish warfare comes to life with a visit to the wooden galleoen, the Vasa, in Vasamuseet, Stockholm. This fantastic vessel is covered with multicoloured carvings of mythical creatures and was recovered from the deapths of the harbour over 300 years after it sank. Children can explore the amazing ship and learn all about its amazing history.

Africa is a fascination destination for any child who has ever seen The Lion King or watch animal documentaries on TV. A visit to the Masai Mara in kenya will take the up close to some of their favourite animals in their own natural habitat.

Other fascinating family attractions include Pompeii, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

British holidaymakers looking to escape the cold weather in the UK for some winter sun abroad may find a warm spanish resort is exactly what they are looking for.

Barcelona maintains a 12 degree temperature in the winter but has a its fair share of warm sunny days through the season. A scenic city, it offers a wealth of excellent shopping opportunities and stunning architecture. The work of Antonio Gaudi can be seen throughout, and no trip to Barcelona would be complete without a visit to the breathtaking cathedral, La Sagrada Famillia.

The golfing hotspot of the Costa del Sol offers UK visitors a range of beautiful beaches and a pleasant winter climate of around 16 degrees. The cities of Malaga and Marbella host a wide range of attractions for all tastes and the resort is easily accesible from a number of UK airports.

Tha Canary Islands are a favourite of UK tourists and during the winter they offer a 21 degree sunny climate to tempt visitors onto the famous black sandy beaches. Tenerife is one of the most popular islands and the stunning cliffs of Los Gigantes offer a spectacular backdrop to a warm winter break.

British holidaymakers planning a luxury holiday in the coming months can find out all they need to know at this years’ Luxury Travel Fair at the Olympia, presented by Conde Nast Traveller and British Airways.

Visitors to the show will receive advice and information on a variety of trips to a number of luxury resorts and destinations worldwide.

A number of celebrity guests will be on hand at the event to share their own experiences and adventures abroad.

The event runs from the 6-9th Novermber 2008.

Holiday travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has revealed some of this seasons’ hottest cities, hotels and islands.

San Fransisco was declared the best city break destination in the USA for the 16th year in a row with South Carolina beating New York into second place.

Italian cities emerged as the favourites in Europe with Florence coming top ahead of Rome and Venice.

Sydney, Melbourne and Queenstown were the most popular in the Australia/Pacific region and Cape Town was nominated the most popular city break destination in Africa and the Middle East.

Among the best hotels were the Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest and the Ritz-Carlton in Berlin. Tuscany’s Il Pellicano was number one in southern Europe with the Four Season George V in Paris in second place.

More information will be available at The Luxury Travel Fair in association with Birtish Airways at Olympia in London from November 6-9th 2008.

Spain is by far the most popular holiday destination for families seeking a half-term break this autumn, according to a recent study.

Alicante was rated as the most popular spanish resort for the mid-term break, followed by Malaga, Tenerife and Palma.

The Portuguese city of Faro also proved popular as well as Turkey’s resort of Dalaman and the Cyprian city of Paphos.

The usually very popular city of Amsterdam came 10th and last in the study behind six spanish resorts.

Despite the current turbulent economic climate it is expected that many UK holidaymakers will take advantage of last minute deals to take a short-haul, family break.

Research by Abbey Credit Cards has revealed that this year’s dissappointing British summer has prompted UK travellers to head abroad in the search for sunnier climbs.

Despite the current economic uncertainties, more than 15 million Britons intend to jet off abroad spending a collective £8bn.

The research also revealed that just over 1 million UK holidaymakers were so disappointed by the poor summer weather that they are opting for a holiday abroad for the first time in three years.

Among the most popular sunspots this winter are the western European destinations such as southern Spain and the Canary Islands, which are expecting almost 8 million visitors over the next few months. Other more exotic destinations include the Middle East, Latin America and Asia.

A report by the Telegraph has revealed that short- and medium-haul destinations are becoming increasingly popular with British holidaymakers as increased fuel charges continue to push up the prices of flights to destinations further a field.

Morocco is enjoying increased popularity this winter and is served by a number of low-cost airlines. Marrakesh and the beaches of Essaouria will be popular destinations in the coming months as well as Tunisia.

Only a six hour flight from London, the islands of Cape Verde offer the white sands of the Seychelles and Maldivian waters but at a much cheaper rate.

The game parks and beach resorts of Gambia offer a less crowded and cheaper alternative to the wildlife safaris in Kenya and South Africa.

Mexico and Brazil are also excellent, affordable winter holiday destinations with British Airways offering direct flights to Rio de Janiero and the pound still strong against the Mexican Peso.

Cruises are also proving to be good value this season, with many lines including Ocean Village, offering week-long Caribbean cruises for under £700 including return flight.

A recent study by the Telegraph has compiled a list of international events this September to cater for all tastes, and providing the perfect reason for an autumn holiday break after the summer period.

The Ryder Cup will this year be held in Kentucky where golf enthusiasts can soak up the sporting atmosphere out on the tree-lined fairways of Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club.

Scotland’s many country houses and castles are opening their doors to the public this month, giving those seeking a cultural break the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country’s rich history.

The Orvieto feast, or Slow Food Festival, in Italy gets underway on the 29th September offering wine tasting and cuisine at a former monastery.

The first Singapore F1 Grand Prix for 35 years will take place on 28th September on a circuit in the Marina Bay area.

Many of Paris’ art galleries hold exhibitions this month including the louvre and the Grand Palais.

The 2008 Expo in Zaragoza will end on the 14th September and is themed on water and sustainable development. The site is located about 20 minutes from the town centre and there are shows and events throughout the day.

The Beethoven Festival takes place in Bonn this month with a celebration of the composers’ life and works.

September 13th sees a night of celebration in Madrid with the famous White Night during which the city will be kept awake and entertained into the dawn with street performances, music and dancing.

Vicenza is the location for the 500th anniversary of the architect Pallaido who trained in the city. A major exhibition of his work and awards will be displayed until January 2009.

British tourists wishing to embark on a more environmentally-friendly break abroad may wish to head to the popular holiday destination of Italy, where the ancient city of Perugia has declared itself car-free with the completion of its new ‘Mini Metro’.

The hilltop capital city of Umbria with its narrow streets and massive travertine wall that surrounds this Etruscan stronghold was not designed to cope with the influx of vehicles and travellers that its regular jazz and chocolate festivals attract.

At last it seems the local authorities and inhabitants have decided to put an end to the queues of idling coaches and cars waiting for parking spaces and have chosen to put in place a €95 million project to install a light railway.

The line begins at the valley floor and climbs for 3km, winding around the ancient buildings and monuments to finally reach the drop-off point in the historic city centre where visitors can enjoy views of the rolling countryside. The journey lasts only 11 minutes.

With the capacity to transport 72,000 visitors in and out of the city every day, it is understandable that many other Spanish cities are now considering similar projects.

The Canary Islands have always been very popular with European holidaymakers, in particular those from the UK, but now there is an added reason to visit the location.

A new luxury resort, the Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, has been developed on the island of Tenerife, and is the new flagship resort of the Spanish hotel group Sol Meliá. The company has been one of the leading providers of luxury accommodation for over 50 years.

The new resort is situated on the southwest coast of Tenerife with stunning oceanic and mountain views. The complex offers six ocean-front garden villas with their own terraces, private pools and Balinese beds. In addition the luxury hotel rooms have excellent ultra modern facilities.

The hotel’s exclusive boutique, RedLevel, is only open to adult clients and a dedicated concierge desk and team of personal butlers cater for all the guests’ requirements.

Outside the hotel boasts lush exotic gardens and a very special feature, a 270m saltwater Infinity Pool. The exquisite pool is bordered by one of Europe’s largest manmade beaches, providing the guests with plenty of space to relax in the sun.

The resort’s Yhi Spa has an endless list of luxury treatments and services to indulge in ranging from massages to herbal steam baths and all in a calming atmosphere to take visitors away from the stresses of everyday life.

Families are welcome at the hotel with a large play area and sports and leisure activities to keep the younger guests entertained. Family concierges are also available to look after you during your visit.

With the euro at a record high against the pound many UK holidaymakers are being forced to tighten their belts, particularly when it comes to their holiday budgets.

According to a report by the Times Onlne the French Riviera is an excellent holiday destination for those seeking excellent cuisine, entertainment and accommodation on a budget.

During the summer the area offers a variety of different festivals including the International Fireworks Festival and the costumed troubadours at the Mornas’ Marché Médievale. For those seeking to get back to nature Provence offers stunning nature reserves with no entry fee. The 70,000-hectare Mercantour National Park is one such reserve.

Marseille’s fascinating Musée Cantini offers visitors a more cultural experience, while fans of author Dan Brown can visit La Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Ste-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume and get a feel for the background of the Da Vinci Code.

The region also offers a wide variety of affordable accommodation from camping to hostels and cheap hotels to suit every budget.

Recent research shows that family city breaks are experiencing a strong revival amongst UK travellers looking to spend more quality time with their loved ones.

Many holidaymakers are opting to take their families to more cultural destinations that offer something for both the adults and the children, rather than more traditional, child-focused family breaks such as theme park visits.

Some of the most popular city break destinations include France, the Channel Islands, Ireland and Holland.

Destinations such as New York and Amsterdam are reportedly very popular with UK travellers wishing to have a short city break as well as a main holiday each year.

While New York’s popularity may be due to the current strength of the pound against the dollar, other popular, far-flung city destinations include Cairo and Sydney.

The 65th Venice International Film Festival starts on 27th August and will open with the world premiere of ‘Burn After Reading’ by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film’s star-studded cast includes George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

There is hot competition for the festival’s famous Golden Lion award for best film, with nominations including a feature-length animation from Hayao Miyazaki, the director of ‘Spirited Away’, and Jonathan Demme’s ‘Rachel Getting Married’.

Other categories at the festival include the Orizzonti section which looks at new trends in cinema, and the Corto Cortissimo competition for the best international short film.

There will also be a special screening of classic Italian films entitled ‘These Phantoms: Italian Cinema Rediscovered (1946-1975)’.

A computer-generated preview of the world-famous cruise line, Queen Elizabeth II has been revealed.

The QE2 has been retired after 40 years of glamorous seafaring and is being turned into a luxury hotel in Dubai, at the exclusive Palm Jumeirah resort.

Work is about to start on a new berth for the cruise ship which will form the pinnacle of a palatial pier which will stretch 1,000 feet into the Arabian Gulf.

Johann Schumacher, director of Palm Jumeirah, said: “The arrival of QE2 is one of the most anticipated events of the year and we are proud to be the custodian of such a historic treasure.

“The world’s most famous ocean liner will form the focal point of an exciting new development that will be a spectacular and must-see attraction on Palm Jumeirah.”

A survey has revealed that men and women have very different ideas about what is important on a luxury holiday, reports Travel Mole.

Women value top quality bathrooms, whereas men favour a concierge and a fun bar.
Overall 5-star accommodation and a comfortable flight are seen as the most important features of a luxury holiday.

Privacy is important to younger travellers, with 20 per cent of 16-24 year olds saying they prefer to stay somewhere on their own.

Thailand is the most popular luxury destination, the Maldives second and Dubai is third.

The poor weather in Britain over the last few summers is leading more and more couples to choose to marry abroad.

The British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) says people feel that they just can’t rely on having good weather at any time of the year now.

The proliferation of airlines offering cheap flights to Europe and further afield, it makes marrying abroad an affordable option for more couples.

Peter Staddon, a spokesperson for BIBA said: With low-cost airlines offering great deals for superb locations, there is an increase in overseas weddings.”

The most popular destinations for British couples marrying abroad include Mauritius, the Caribbean islands and Cyprus.

A study of holiday destinations in the developing nations has revealed the top 10 ethical destinations.

The top 10 (in alphabetical order) is -
Argentina
Bolivia
Bulgaria
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Estonia
Namibia
Nicaragua
South Africa

The study was conducted by San Francisco based Ethical Traveler magazine and rated each country on its environmental protection, social welfare and human rights conditions.

Holidays in Croatia have become even more popular this year, as it is seen by many people as a cheaper alternative to Italy and was praised for its “large percentage of protected eco-regions”.

Bulgaria, popular for family beach holidays and cheap ski holidays in the winter months scored highly for the social welfare and civil liberties enjoyed by its citizens.

Jeff Greenwald of Ethical Traveler said: “Each year, the public interest in responsible tourism grows [and the report] helps travellers who choose to use their tourism dollars to support human rights and the environment.”

The best beaches in Europe can be found by the Mediterranean, in Spain, France, Portugal and Italy, according to an expert study of Europe’s beaches.

Considering various criteria, website Onbeach.com specialists considered European beaches and ranked a top five amongst them:

1. Platja S’Amarador, Mallorca, Spain
2. Cala Salada, Ibiza, Spain
3. Baie de Rondinara, Corsica, France
4. Praia de Sao Rafael, Algarve, Portugal
5. Port Nuova, Puglia, Italy

“Our teams have travelled to every single beach in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. We have evaluated all beaches independently using over 100 criteria such as cleanliness, facilities and suitability for swimming,” said managing director Gerben van Dam.